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Everything you need to know about The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Everything you need to know about The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Overview

The Kashmir Great Lakes trek witnesses a majestic expedition right through the alpine terrain scattered throughout the Kashmir valley. Walking through around 70 miles, this lowland will show the sequence of beautiful high-altitude lakes appearing at an angle in the clouds. Journey from Sonamarg and ends in Naranag the trail lets adventurers explore green meadows, dense pine forests, and little shepherds′ hamlets. Shimmering valleys, especially Vishansar, Krishansar, and Gangbal, are among the prettiest parts of the alpine lakes and the bluest waters in the world. The Kashmir Great Lakes trek boasts a real depiction of amazing adventures in a remote landscape characterized by serenity that makes it a life-long experience in the vast Himalayan ranges.

Brief itinerary for the trek 

Day 1: Arrival in kashmir

Day 2: Travel from kashmir to Sonmarg 

Day 3: trek from Sonmarg to nichnai

Day 4: Reach Vishnasar Lake by trekking from Nichnai

Day 5: trek from Vishnasar lake to Krishansar lake 

Day 6: Krisahnsar to Gadsar Lake by trekking 

Day 7: Trek to Satsar lake from the Gadsar lake 

Day 8: Trek to Gangbal lake from Satsar lake

Day 9: trek from Gangbal lake to nundkol 

Day 10: Departure from Srinagar 

What to expect?

The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek can be done in 6 days and while trekking you’ll come across Gadsar, zaj, and Nichnai. These are the 3 high altitude passes and the most challenging part is to climb up to these passes. Climbing these passes is just the 12-35 5 of the whole trek. Apart from this, the whole route is mostly flat and not that challenging. 

You’ll cross the beautiful forest of pine and deodar while trekking and you’ll be crossing the stunning large stretched meadows for most of the trek. The beautiful views of the surrounding snow-covered mountains are just a treat to one’s eyes. The glaciers melt and merge into the lake which you’ll be trekking. You’ll come across Gadsar Lake on the 3 day of your trek which is one of the largest lakes on the trail. You need to be physically fit to complete this trek easily because you will need to walk for around 7-8 hours per day. It is recommended to walk slowly as you are comfortable and do not rush so that you can acclimatize properly. 

What’s the best time to do the trek? 

The best period to be at the Great Lakes trek of Kashmir is in May as well as June where the weather is the best during this time. The springtime in this area marks the after-winter flowering stunningly, with the vast and diverse arrays of wildflowers that grace the field, greatly enhancing the natural scenery. The weather is normally pleasant, and temperatures seldom drop below 15 degrees Celsius or rise to 20 degrees Celsius during the day. The snow has gone, and the lakes just below the snowline, such as Vishansar, Krishansar, and Gangbal, have reawakened with a divine beauty at its peak.

This view is just about right in between easily digestible and hard-hitting visual performance. They lead along well-concealed paths, and the weather is easily controllable, guaranteeing the safety of hikers from abrupt avalanches and extreme conditions. On the flip side, you have to factor in varying weather which sometimes can be unexpected, and therefore, coldness can sneak in at higher altitudes. The monsoon season is to be avoided because trekking may be unsafe, and the whole experience could be ruined due to unpleasant and at times dangerous weather.

Difficulty level of trek

The route will be labeled as being moderately hard to extremely hard and it will have a grade of 4, thus this is a suitable course for those who are skilled at such greetings and have some prior experience. Here effects are not only elevations with declines, but also rocky paths can be found with some possible hard weather situations for example, when altitude is too high. Hikers are recommended to learn to climb different kinds of terrain such as snow, which may be a part of such a high-altitude hiking track. And they should have solid physical readiness to be very well-prepared to go through such a difficult hiking path. On this trek the length, the mountains and hills you cover daily, and the altitude of some campsites, decide how much effort is needed to pass each day, each week, and all together. On the contrary, in the vast and open spaces of nature, one can find incredible landscapes especially, deep ravines and steep slopes and the perfect mirror-like, still lakes which can be achieved even after great privations and exhaustion when venturing into this comforting favorite locality.

Where will you stay during the trek?

After reaching Srinagar you’ll have to drive to Sonmarg which is a beautiful town in Srinagar and it is also the base camp of the kashmir great lakes trek. After reaching here you can book your stay in the hotel or homestay before the trek. After the trek starts you’ll be staying at the campsites in the tents. You can choose the tents according to your preference and there you will find comfortable sleeping bags and mattresses. You can feel a bit uncomfortable in the tents if you are staying for the first time but it will get better with the time. While camping here you can have the best time of your life vibing with your companions. After returning to Srinagar you can book a stay in a top-class hotel and spend a day exploring this beautiful place. 

Things to carry

  1. Mandatory documents:
  • A medical certificate signed by a practicing doctor 
  • All the essential permits
  • A passport-size photo
  • Photocopy and original government identity card
  • Passport if you are an international tourist 
  1. Clothing
  • Trekking pants
  • A pair of socks 
  • Sun cap 
  • Gloves
  • Comfortable trekking shoes 
  1. Essential items
  • First aid kit
  • Necessary medications 
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen, moisturizer, and other toiletries
  • Trekking pole 
  • All the essential gear 

How to reach 

The Great Lakes of Kashmir unite several picturesque mountain lakes with crystal clear glaciers amidst which the trekking path winds; every step forward is surrounded by the display of magnificent nature in every direction. This decent walk may take it from Sonamarg, a town in the Kashmir Valley usually.

By Air

Sinclair wears a coat to keep himself warm in the hurricane weather. From Srinagar, you have two options: either a private car or a shared cars to go to Sonamarg. The drive from Srinagar to the Sonamarg (the Shepherd’s land) will take 3 to 4 hours with a road distance of about 80 kilometers.

By Road

From Srinagar

Srinagar is connected to other city centers by a good road network in the region. To go from Sonamarg you can choose a taxi, rented car, or shared taxi The actual travel time from Srinagar to Sonamarg is around 3-4 hours driving.

From Jammu

If you start from Jammu in your car, a taxi or a bus are your options for Sonomarg Road. Approximately 10 to 12 hours of journey by roadway is taken from Jammu to expand to Sonamarg.

By Train

The train route from the serious cities to Jammu is ranged after this. After this, you can travel either by bus or taxi to Sonamarg.

It is worthwhile to consider the travel conditions of the recent period, and weather forecasts, in case one plans to travel independently to Sonamarg. It is advisable to do this if you intend to head there yourself to check whether the roads will be passable. 

How to prepare for the trek 

You need good physical health if you want to complete the Kashmir Great Lakes trek. You need to train yourself for 15-20 days to get properly fit. This is one of the long treks but it can be easily done by a beginner if you are physically fit. This trek will test your mental and physical endurance. This can be a challenging trek but the beauty of this place is worth all the challenges you might face during this trek.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the valley stands as a feature of nature’s beauty at the best possible level. From bloomy and low flowery meadows to dense and dark forests and rounder deep lakes at higher altitudes. Finally, the journey made from the smooth shores of Vishansar continues through the other lakes of Manasbal, Nundkol, and Kisansar which contribute to the additional chapters that reveal more beautiful views of the Great Gangbal Lake. A hobby that has an unusual gift indeed. sometimes it dismantles the physical barriers along the way, and whilst the hiking route is changing, so as the souls of all trekkers. It turns them into happier people after the incredible splendor of nature. 

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